FAA Ends Aircraft Noise Complaint Phone Lines, Moves to Online-Only System
iSpyVNY - February 2, 2026
Washington, DC — The Federal Aviation Administration has eliminated its regional aircraft noise complaint telephone hotlines, shifting all public noise concerns to a single national online portal.
In a notice dated January 30, 2026, the FAA announced it has retired its legacy phone-based complaint system and will now accept aircraft noise complaints exclusively through the Aviation Noise Complaint and Inquiry Response (ANCIR) Portal, a web-based platform hosted on the agency’s website.
According to the FAA, the change is part of a broader modernization effort intended to standardize complaint intake nationwide, improve data quality, and reduce administrative workload on regional offices. The agency said fewer than 10 percent of aircraft noise complaints were submitted by phone, but those calls required significant staff time for manual transcription, spam filtering, and review of duplicate records.
“Exclusive use of the ANCIR Portal for noise concerns will eliminate these inefficiencies while strengthening consistency, auditability, and compliance with internal-control requirements,” the agency said, citing Office of Management and Budget Circular A-123.
The FAA maintains that removing telephone options does not reduce public access, noting that the phone numbers themselves were only available online. The agency also emphasized that the ANCIR Portal complies with federal accessibility standards, including Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and is compatible with assistive technologies and mobile devices.
While the FAA asserts the system remains equitable, critics say eliminating phone-based reporting removes a long-standing alternative for individuals unable or unwilling to use online forms. The federal accessibility statutes cited by the agency do not address barriers such as lack of broadband availability, computer ownership, or digital literacy. Individuals who rely on voice-based interaction rather than web interfaces may be disproportionately affected by the removal of legacy noise complaint phone access.
An October 6, 2025 report published by Older Adults Technology Services (OATS), an affiliate of AARP, found that populations affected by digital inequality include older adults, rural residents, and low-income households. According to the report, 32 percent of adults aged 65 and older lack wireline broadband access at home. “With 32 percent of older Americans still lacking wireline broadband access at home, there is work to be done,” OATS said in a press release announcing the report.
The FAA said it will update related webpages and coordinate with airports, community noise groups, and other stakeholders to facilitate the transition. Agency officials also indicated they are prepared to respond to inquiries from congressional offices and the public regarding the change.
For now, the ANCIR Portal stands as the FAA’s sole method for submitting aircraft noise concerns nationwide, marking the end of direct public phone access to regional noise complaint offices. As of publication, the noise complaint portal was not accessible due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.